Autostereoscopic devices and methods for producing 3D images

ABSTRACT

An autostereoscopic device and a method for generating an autostereoscopic image are disclosed. The device includes a substrate, a first image-forming layer disposed on the substrate, a second image-forming layer, a light-transmissive layer positioned between the first image-forming layer and the second image-forming layer, and an addressing unit. The addressing unit is used to substantially simultaneously adjust the first image-forming layer and the second image-forming layer in order to generate an autostereoscopic image. The image-forming layers may be thermally sensitive or they may include capsules containing electrophoretically responsive particles.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/948,926 filed on Dec. 17, 2019, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety, along with all other patents and patentapplications disclosed herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of 3D image devices, morespecifically autostereoscopic devices that include parallax barriers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An autostereoscopic device is able to produce a 3D image without theneed for special glasses. Some autostereoscopic devices include parallaxbarriers. A conventional parallax barrier includes a layer having afixed pattern of light barriers and slits or pinholes. The parallaxbarrier is placed in front of and spaced apart from a second layer, animage-forming layer, which provides image specific information. Theparallax barrier selectively blocks light emitted or modulated by thesecond layer such that the left and right eyes of a suitably positionedobserver see a 3D image. Conventional fixed parallax barriers haveseveral disadvantages including a narrow viewing angle and a dark imageresulting from absorption of light by the light barriers.

A content-adaptive autostereoscopic device also comprises at least two,spaced-apart layers. However, the parallax barrier layer does not have afixed pattern, but rather a light-transmissive, non-binary image thatcan be varied according to the content to be produced. Essentially, alight-transmissive independently controllable device is used as theparallax barrier and a second independently controllable device formsthe rear layer. The combination of two variable layers allows a widerviewing angle and a brighter image than those that are possible with afixed parallax barrier. This, however, comes at the cost of asignificantly more complex device requiring a controller that is able tocoordinate the images produced by the first and second layers. Inaddition, multiple layers of imaging media and electrode layers impairsthe transparency of the parallax barrier layer.

Autostereoscopic devices incorporating a conventional parallax barrierare produced from at least two separately printed images, at least oneof which is disposed on a substrate, that are subsequently joinedtogether into registration with precision. Similarly, autostereoscopicdevices having a content-adaptive parallax barrier are produced from twoseparate displays (e.g., LCD displays) that require precise registrationto each other.

Thus, there is a need for improved 3D devices having parallax barriers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention overcome the drawbacks of previoussystems and methods by providing autostereoscopic devices and methods ofgenerating images by using a single addressing unit, or two addressingunits, to address two image-forming layers.

In one aspect, an autostereoscopic device for generating anautostereoscopic image is provided. The device comprises a substrate, afirst image-forming layer disposed on the substrate, a secondimage-forming layer, a light-transmissive layer positioned between thefirst image-forming layer and the second image-forming layer, and anaddressing unit comprising a heating element. The first and secondimage-forming layers comprise a first and second material, respectively,having a thermally adjustable optical property. The addressing unit isconfigured to apply heat to the first image-forming layer and the secondimage-forming layer. The first image-forming layer and the secondimage-forming layer generate an autostereoscopic image.

In another aspect, an autostereoscopic device for generating anautostereoscopic image is provided that comprises a substrate, a firstimage-forming layer disposed on the substrate, a second image-forminglayer, a light-transmissive layer positioned between the firstimage-forming layer and the second image-forming layer, a firstaddressing unit comprising a first heating element and a secondaddressing unit comprising a second heating element. The first andsecond image-forming layers comprise a first and second material,respectively, having a thermally adjustable optical property. The firstaddressing unit is configured to apply heat to the first image-forminglayer and the second addressing unit is configured to apply heat to thesecond image-forming layer. The first image-forming layer and the secondimage-forming layer generate an autostereoscopic image.

In another aspect, an autostereoscopic device is disclosed comprising asubstrate comprising a plurality of electrodes, a first layer ofmicrocapsules located on the substrate comprising a first dispersion ofelectrophoretic particles, a second layer of microcapsules comprising asecond dispersion of electrophoretic particles, and a layer oflight-transmissive microcapsules between the first and second layer. Thelight-transmissive microcapsules may consist essentially of alight-transmissive fluid.

In yet another aspect, a method of producing an autostereoscopic imageis provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing anautostereoscopic device comprising a substrate, a first image-forminglayer comprising a first material having thermally adjustable opticalproperties, the first image-forming layer disposed on the substrate, asecond image-forming layer comprising a second material having thermallyadjustable optical properties, a light-transmissive layer positionedbetween the first and second image-forming layers, and an addressingunit comprising a heating element; and (b) heating the first and secondimage-forming layers with the addressing unit, such that the first andsecond image-forming layers generate an autostereoscopic image. Themethod may further comprise the steps of (c) providing three-dimensionalimage data to a controller; (d) computing an image to be produced by thefirst and second image-forming layers; and (e) controlling the heatapplied by the addressing unit to the first and second image-forminglayers. The autostereoscopic device used for the method may furthercomprise a second addressing unit and the heating step may compriseheating the first image-forming layer with the addressing unit andheating the second image-forming layer with the second addressing unit.

In another aspect, a method of producing an autostereoscopic image isprovided. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing anautostereoscopic device comprising a substrate having a plurality ofelectrodes, a first layer of microcapsules located on the substratecomprising a first dispersion of electrophoretic particles, a secondlayer of microcapsules comprising a second dispersion of electrophoreticparticles, and a layer of light-transmissive microcapsules between thefirst and second layer; (b) providing a three-dimensional image data toa controller; (c) computing an image to be displayed by the first andsecond layers of microcapsules; and (d) controlling the plurality ofelectrodes, such that the plurality of electrodes apply an electricfield to the first and second layers of microcapsules and the first andsecond layers of microcapsules generate the autostereoscopic image. Thelight-transmissive microcapsules of the autostereoscopic device used inthe method may consist essentially of a light-transmissive fluid.

It is to be appreciated that the features described above can becombined in any number of various ways to describe devices or methodsthat incorporate features disclosed herein.

The foregoing advantages of the invention will appear in the detaileddescription, which follows. In the description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a device for generating anautostereoscopic image according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are schematic side views of a device for generating anautostereoscopic image according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

The invention may be embodied in several forms without departing fromits spirit or essential characteristics. The scope of the invention isdefined in the appended claims, rather than in the specific descriptionpreceding them. All aspects that fall within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced by theclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more specifically with reference tothe following aspects. It is to be noted that the following aspects arepresented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise formdisclosed.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” andvariations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listedthereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

As used herein, “consisting essentially of” means that the compositionor component may include additional ingredients, but only if theadditional ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novelcharacteristics of the claimed compositions or methods.

Furthermore, the disclosed subject matter may be implemented as adevice, method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standardprogramming and/or engineering techniques and/or programming to producehardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof to implementaspects detailed herein.

The various aspects of the invention will be described in connectionwith a device for producing an autostereoscopic image. The features andadvantages that arise due to aspects of the invention are well suited tothis purpose. Still, it should be appreciated that the various aspectsof the invention can be applied to other applications and to achieveother objectives as well.

Referring now to the Figures, and more particularly FIG. 1 , a devicefor generating an autostereoscopic image according to a first embodimentof the present invention is shown. The device 100 includes an imagingmember 101 and an addressing unit 102. The imaging member 101 includes afirst image-forming layer 104 disposed on a substrate 110, a secondimage-forming layer 108, and a light-transmissive layer 106 disposedbetween the first image-forming layer 104 and the second image-forminglayer 108. The first image-forming layer 104 and the secondimage-forming layer 108 are preferably light-transmissive and colorless,but contain a material having a thermally adjustable optical property.As used herein, “light-transmissive” layer means that sufficient lightis transmitted through the layer designated as light-transmissive toenable an observer, looking through that layer from one side, to observethe change in optical states of the layer or another material on anopposing side of the layer. The material having a thermally adjustableoptical property in the first and second image-forming layers may absorbspecific wavelengths of light as defined by a first absorption spectrumand a second absorption spectrum respectively. In some aspects of theinvention, the first and second absorption spectra are the same, thatis, identical wavelengths of light that can be absorbed. However, inother aspects, the first and second absorption spectra overlap, but arenot identical. The thermally adjustable optical property of the firstmaterial transitions at a first temperature and the thermally adjustableoptical property of the second material transitions at a secondtemperature. The first temperature may be greater than the secondtemperature.

An optional light-transmissive protective layer 112 may also be disposedon the first image-forming layer 104. In yet another aspect, thesubstrate 110 may include a reflective sheet (not shown in FIG. 1 ), ifthe imaging member 101 is intended to form a reflective device.Alternatively, the substrate 110 may be a release sheet that issubsequently removed, so that the imaging member 101 may be laminatedonto a light emitting member (not shown in FIG. 1 ) comprising abacklight for illuminating the image-forming layers and provide anemissive device.

The image-forming layers 104 and 108 are optically adjustable so thattheir respective absorption spectra can be altered when the addressingunit 102 is used to address the imaging member 101. The addressing unit102 is capable of addressing the first image-forming layer 104 and thesecond image-forming layer 108 substantially simultaneously, therebyproviding an auto registered autostereoscopic device. As previouslyexplained, the image-forming layers 104 and 108 are preferablylight-transmissive and colorless; however, specific locations on theimage-forming layers may be addressed individually so that the color,i.e. absorptive/reflective properties, of the specific locations isadjusted. This allows a unique image to be produced on each of theimage-forming layers. When adjusted, either the first or secondimage-forming layers 104 and 108 may form a parallax barrier, while theother of the first and second image-forming layer 104 and 108 provides arear image to be viewed through the parallax barrier, and together theoptically adjusted first and second image-forming layers 104, 108generate an autostereoscopic image.

In one aspect, a desired three-dimensional image is provided to acontroller, which computes the images to be produced on the first andsecond image-forming layers to form the three-dimensional image. As usedherein, the term “controller” may include one or more processors andmemories and/or one or more programmable hardware elements and isintended to include any types of processors, CPUs, microcontrollers,digital signal processors, or other devices capable of executingsoftware instructions. The controller communicates the images to beproduced to the addressing unit 102, which adjusts the firstimage-forming layer 104 and second image-forming layer 108 accordingly.In some aspects, the controller may be a component of the device 100;however, the computation of the images to be produced may also be doneremotely and communicated to the device 100.

In one non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first image-forminglayer 104 and the second image-forming layer 108 are thermallysensitive. The application of heat to one location of the image-forminglayers changes the optical property of the material within thatlocation, such that its respective absorption spectrum is adjusted. Theaddressing unit 102 has a heating element for applying heat to theimaging member 101 and the light-transmissive layer 106 may be thermallyinsulating to control the transmission of heat through the imagingmember 101. Because the addressing unit 102 is in contact with only onesurface of the imaging member 101, the first image-forming layer 104 maybe less sensitive to heat than the second image-forming layer 108, sothat a variation in the time and intensity of heat applied to thesurface of the imaging member 101 enables the materials in the firstimage-forming layer 104 and second image-forming layer 108 to beoptically adjusted independently. The degree of light transmissivity orcolor of the adjusted regions in the first and second image-forminglayers 104, 108 may also be varied, thereby improving the viewing angleof the image produced by the device.

An example of a device comprising a single addressing unit able toindividually adjust the first and second image-forming layers isdisclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,408,563, the entire contentof which is incorporated by reference herein. The device eliminates theextra step of precisely registering the first and second image-forminglayers by providing for the substantially simultaneous formation of theparallax barrier and rear image from two pre-laminated image-forminglayers. In another embodiment, the device may include a secondaddressing unit that is applied to an opposing surface of the imagingmember, such that the first addressing unit adjusts the opticalproperties of the first image-forming layer and the second addressingunit adjusts the optical properties of the second image-forming layer.

A direct thermal imaging technique may be used to form an image byheating the corresponding image-forming layer, which may be initiallycolorless, by the addressing unit. In direct thermal imaging, there isno need for ink, toner, or thermal transfer ribbon. Rather, thechemistry required to form an image is present in the imaging memberitself. A discussion of various direct thermal color imaging methods isprovided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,233 B2, the entire content of which isincorporated by reference herein. In the method of the presentinvention, an imaging member having two or more image-forming layers isaddressed by an addressing unit, which may be a thermal printing head,to provide a colored image. The image may comprise multiple colors. Theimaging member may be addressed in more than one pass of the addressingunit, at least one pass being at a different speed from at least anotherpass. Optionally, the imaging member is preheated to a different extentin at least one pass than in at least another pass. The heating may bedirect heating or indirect heating. Each image-forming layer can changecolor, e.g., from initially colorless to colored, where it is heated toa particular temperature referred to herein as its activatingtemperature. All the layers of the image member may be transparentbefore color formation. The image-forming layers may be addressed atleast partially independently by variation of two adjustable parameters,namely, temperature and time. These parameters can be adjusted to obtainthe desired results in any particular instance by selecting thetemperature of the addressing unit (e.g. the thermal printing head) andthe period of time during which heat is applied to the thermal imagingmember. Thus, each color of a multicolor imaging member can be printedalone or in selectable proportion with the other colors. Thetemperature-time domain is divided into regions corresponding to thedifferent colors that it is desired to obtain in the final image. Theimage-forming layers of the imaging member undergo a change in color toprovide the desired image in the imaging member. The change in color maybe from colorless to colored, from colored to colorless, or from onecolor to another. The term “image-forming layer” includes all suchoptions. Each of the image-forming layers may be independently addressedby application of heat with a thermal printing head in contact with thetopmost layer of the member. In imaging members with two image-forminglayers, the activating temperature of the second image-forming layer(that is, the image-forming layer closest to the surface of the thermalimaging member) is greater than the activating temperature of the firstimage-forming layer.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A to 2E, a second embodiment of a deviceaccording to the present invention is illustrated. FIGS. 2A to 2Eillustrate an imaging member of a device for generating anautostereoscopic image. The imaging member comprises a firstimage-forming layer 204 and a second image-forming layer 208 separatedby a light-transmissive layer 206. A substrate 210 on which the firstimage-forming layer is located includes a plurality of electrodes foraddressing the first and second image-forming layers 204 and 208.

The first image-forming layer 204 and the second image-forming layer 208preferably each comprise a plurality of light-transmissive microcapsulescontaining dispersions of electrophoretically responsive particlesdisposed in a carrier medium, such as a fluid. The electrophoreticparticles in the first and second image-forming layers may or may nothave the same absorption spectra and/or electrophoretic mobility.

Numerous patents and applications assigned to or in the names of theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and E Ink Corporationdescribe various technologies used in encapsulated electrophoretic andother electro-optic media. The technologies described in the thesepatents and applications, the entire contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein, include:

-   (a) Electrophoretic particles, fluids and fluid additives; see for    example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,002,728; and 7,679,814;-   (b) Capsules, binders and encapsulation processes; see for example    U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,922,276; and 7,411,719;-   (c) Microcell structures, wall materials, and methods of forming    microcells; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,072,095; and 9,279,906;-   (d) Methods for filling and sealing microcells; see for example U.S.    Pat. Nos. 7,144,942; and 7,715,088;-   (e) Films and sub-assemblies containing electro-optic materials; see    for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,982,178; and 7,839,564;-   (f) Backplanes, adhesive layers and other auxiliary layers and    methods used in displays; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,116,318;    and 7,535,624;-   (g) Color formation and color adjustment; see for example U.S. Pat.    Nos. 7,075,502; and 7,839,564;-   (h) Methods for driving displays; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos.    7,012,600; and 7,453,445;-   (i) Applications of displays; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos.    7,312,784; and 8,009,348; and-   (j) Non-electrophoretic displays, as described in U.S. Pat. No.    6,241,921; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.    2015/0277160; 2015/0005720; and 2016/0012710.

Encapsulated electrophoretic media comprise one or more types of chargedpigment particles that move through the fluid under the influence of anelectric field, forming an image. Encapsulated electrophoretic media maycomprise numerous small capsules, each of which itself comprises acharged pigment particles in a fluid medium, and a capsule wallsurrounding the internal phase. Typically, the capsules are themselvesheld within a polymeric binder to form a coherent layer positionedbetween two electrodes. Alternatively, the charged particles and thefluid may be retained within a plurality of sealed cavities formedwithin a carrier medium, typically a polymeric film, often referred toas microcells.

Although electrophoretic media are often opaque (since, for example, inmany electrophoretic media, the particles substantially blocktransmission of visible light through the display) and operate in areflective mode, many electrophoretic films can be made to operate in aso-called “shutter mode” in which one optical state is substantiallyopaque and one is light-transmissive. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,872,552; 6,130,774; 6,144,361; 6,172,798; 6,271,823; 6,225,971; and6,184,856. Examples of the can operate in such a mode includedielectrophoretic displays, which are similar to electrophoreticdisplays but rely upon variations in electric field strength; see U.S.Pat. No. 4,418,346.

In order to provide the required distance between the firstimage-forming layer 204 and the second image-forming layer 208(illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2E), the light-transmissive layer 206 maycomprise one or more rows of light-transmissive capsules consistingessentially of a light-transmissive fluid and not containing opticallyadjustable materials, such as electrophoretic particles, such that theoptical properties of the light-transmissive layer 206 remainsubstantially constant during operation of the device. Display devicesformed by applying successive rows of encapsulated electrophoretic mediaand methods of driving the devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. No. 8,576,476, the entire content of which is incorporated byreference herein.

The plurality of electrodes 211 a and 211 b may be used to apply anelectric field to the image-forming layers 204 and 208 of an imagemember 200, shown in FIG. 2A. Applying an electric field to the firstand second image-forming layers 204 and 208 causes the particles to movewithin their respective capsules, adjusting the respective opticalproperties of the image-forming layers. The plurality of electrodes 211a and 211 b can control the first image-forming layer 204 and the secondimage-forming layer 208 from one side of the imaging member 200, therebyeliminating the need for any intervening electrode or conductive layersthat may adversely affect the light transmissivity of the device.Depending on the applied voltage waveform, the electrophoretic particlesmay be driven towards various locations within their respectivecapsules, adjusting the respective optical properties of theimage-forming layers. For example, referring to FIG. 2A, theelectrophoretic particles 209 in the first image-forming layer 204 andthe electrophoretic particles 207 in the second image-forming layer 208may have a similar charge polarity and may be driven towards atransparent “open” state, wherein the particles aggregate towards thelateral walls of the capsules.

In another example depicted in FIG. 2B, an image member 250 compriseselectrodes 251 a to 251 d that are in the form of concentratorelectrodes. The electrophoretic particles 209 in the first image-forminglayer 204 and the electrophoretic particles 207 in the secondimage-forming layer may have a similar charge polarity, such that theparticles in both image-forming layers may be driven towards theplurality of electrodes. In this example, the particles 209 in the firstimage-forming layer 204 are shuttered by being concentrated into a smallarea in proximity to the electrode. Similarly, because the microcapsules205 in the second image-forming layer 208 may include a conical orpyramidal-shaped well 203, the particles 207 in the second image-forminglayer 208 may also be shuttered by concentrating the particles 207 intoa small area, thereby providing an imaging member with a transparentoptical state.

In FIG. 2C, addressing the microcapsules at a different frequency orvoltage may cause the particles 209 to spread out, such that an observerwill observe the optical property of the particles 209. In FIG. 2D, thepolarity of the electric field is reversed, in relation to the electricfield of FIG. 2C. As a result, the particles 209 in the firstimage-forming layer 204 are shuttered by concentrating the particles 209into the conical or pyramidal-shaped wells 201 of the microcapsules 215in the first image-forming layer 204, and the particles 207 are spreadout on one side of the microcapsules 208, so that the optical propertyof the particles 207 may be observed. As illustrated in FIG. 2E, becausethe electrodes 211 a and 211 b are independently addressable, theimage-forming layers 204 and 206 may be adjusted differently indifferent pixel locations.

The imaging member 200 (illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2E) may furtherinclude a protective layer 214 that may be adhered to the secondimage-forming layer 208 with an adhesive, preferably an optically clearadhesive. If the device is viewed from the side of the protective layer214, the protective layer 214 is preferably light-transmissive. Inaddition, if the device is a reflective display, an optional reflectivelayer 212 may be incorporated below the first image-forming layer 212.In another embodiment, the substrate 210 may include a reflectivematerial. Alternatively, if the reflective display is viewed from theopposing side (not from the side of the protective layer), the substrate210 is preferably light-transmissive, and the protective layer 214 maybe reflective. In yet another embodiment, the imaging member 200 may beused to form an emissive display, wherein it is preferred that both theprotective layer 214 and substrate 210 are light-transmissive, so that abacklight may be applied to either side of the imaging member 20.

The imaging member may be further combined with a controller (not shownin FIGS. 2A to 2E) that, upon receiving a desired three-dimensionalimage, can compute an image to be produced on the first image-forminglayer 204 and second image-forming layer 208. The controller may thencontrol the plurality of electrodes to apply the electric field tomicrocapsules 205, 215 that will form the two images and generate anautostereoscopic image. The computation may be performed locally orremotely.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative aspects ofthe invention. Various modifications and additions can be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof. Furthermore, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionand operation shown and described. For example, any of the variousfeatures described herein can be combined with some or all of the otherfeatures described herein according to alternate aspects. While thepreferred aspect has been described, the details may be changed withoutdeparting from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Finally, it is expressly contemplated that any of the processes or stepsdescribed herein may be combined, eliminated, or reordered. In otheraspects, instructions may reside in computer readable medium whereinthose instructions are executed by a processor to perform one or more ofprocesses or steps described herein. As such, it is expresslycontemplated that any of the processes or steps described herein can beimplemented as hardware, software, including program instructionsexecuting on a computer, or a combination of hardware and software.Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way ofexample, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An autostereoscopic device comprising: asubstrate; a first image-forming layer comprising a first materialhaving a thermally adjustable optical property, the first image-forminglayer disposed on the substrate; a second image-forming layer comprisinga second material having a thermally adjustable optical property; alight-transmissive layer positioned between the first image-forminglayer and the second image-forming layer; and an addressing unitcomprising a heating element, wherein the addressing unit is configuredto apply heat to the first image-forming layer and the secondimage-forming layer, and wherein the first image-forming layer and thesecond image-forming layer generate an autostereoscopic image.
 2. Theautostereoscopic device of claim 1, wherein: the first image-forminglayer has a first absorption spectrum, and the second image-forminglayer having a second absorption spectrum, the first absorption spectrumand the second absorption spectrum are the same.
 3. The autostereoscopicdevice of claim 1, wherein the thermally adjustable optical property ofthe first material transitions at a first temperature and the thermallyadjustable optical property of the second material transitions at asecond temperature.
 4. The autostereoscopic device of claim 3, whereinthe first temperature is greater than the second temperature.
 5. Theautostereoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive layeris thermally insulating.
 6. The autostereoscopic device of claim 1,wherein one of the first and second image-forming layers is a parallaxbarrier.
 7. A method of producing an autostereoscopic image comprising:providing the autostereoscopic device according to claim 1, and heatingthe first and second image-forming layers with an addressing unit, suchthat the first and second image-forming layers generate anautostereoscopic image.
 8. The method of producing an autostereoscopicimage according to claim 7 further comprising: providingthree-dimensional image data to a controller; computing an image to beproduced by the first and second image-forming layers; and controllingthe heat applied by the addressing unit to the first and secondimage-forming layers.
 9. An autostereoscopic image made according to themethod of claim
 7. 10. An autostereoscopic device comprising: asubstrate; a first image-forming layer comprising a first materialhaving a thermally adjustable optical property, the first image-forminglayer disposed on the substrate; a second image-forming layer comprisinga second material having a thermally adjustable optical property; alight-transmissive layer positioned between the first image-forminglayer and the second image-forming layer; a first addressing unitcomprising a heating element, wherein the first addressing unit isconfigured to apply heat to the first image-forming layer, and a secondaddressing unit comprising a heating element, wherein the secondaddressing unit is configured to apply heat to the second image-forminglayer, wherein the first image-forming layer and the secondimage-forming layer generate an autostereoscopic image.
 11. A method ofproducing an autostereoscopic image comprising: providing theautostereoscopic device according to claim 10, heating the firstimage-forming layer with the first addressing unit and the secondimage-forming layer with the second addressing unit, such that the firstand second image-forming layers generate an autostereoscopic image. 12.The method of producing an autostereoscopic image according to claim 11further comprising: providing three-dimensional image data to acontroller; computing an image to be produced by the first and secondimage-forming layers; and controlling the heat applied by the first andsecond addressing units to the first and second image-forming layers.13. An autostereoscopic image made according to the method of claim 11.